Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Canterbury vs Killingly vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethlehem | Canterbury | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
5,124 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #82 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.